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At the Resource - Free First Responder Training from the RDPC

This ongoing feature provides information on free resources accessible to first responder departments nationwide. This includes training, equipment, and funding opportunities that focus on rural and small to midsize communities.

Spotlight: Free First Responder Training from the RDPC

In 2005, legislation authorized the creation of the Rural Domestic Preparedness Consortium, funded by the Department of Homeland Security, to “develop and deliver all-hazards preparedness training to rural communities across the Nation.” Led by Eastern Kentucky University, the RDPC offers a broad range of tuition-free courses, both in a classroom setting and online, all of which are tailored to meet the needs and challenges of rural departments and communities.

RDPC classes are structured to facilitate participation by small and volunteer departments, in addition to full time agencies. Many classes are provided in a mobile format, designed to maximize the number of departments that may participate, while minimizing the distances participants must travel. Since its creation, the Consortium has facilitated more than 30,000 course completions nationwide, including more than 15,000 from 2011 to 2012 alone. By the fall of 2013, the RDPC will include 46 courses in its catalogue, all of which are made available free of charge.

In addition to instructional services, the RDPC provides a catalogue of resources for rural departments. These resources include a list of freely available software for event security planning, resource inventory systems, and PASCOM assessment, as well as videos, reports, and newsletters. This resource library also features a section on Open Source Daily Briefs; a resource on anti-terrorism news provided by the Institute for Preventative Strategies.

A full schedule of the upcoming training classes is available here. If you would like a specific training from RDPC course catalogue for your department, request it here.